I really try hard not to make everything a discussion about race. At least for me, sometimes it’s relevant and other times it’s not. This story however has me turning my head sideways as I’m not too certain it would be applicable for many of “us.”
In case you missed it, news outlets reported a story about a woman, Noelle Hancock, who made the decision to quit her job and leave the country. This might not sound like news to you as folks quit their job for different reasons. But ask yourself this question: would you leave a position that paid you $95,000 a year to scoop ice cream in the Caribbean?
Just let that simmer.
Most of us would agree that money isn’t everything. It comes and goes. How many of us have seen people waste their lives chasing dollar signs instead of enjoying the everyday like family and good health? Sure it’s great to build wealth (no one should argue that), but sometimes, more money can lead to more problems.
When I first heard about Noelle Hancock quitting her journalism job that paid close to $100,000, after wondering where I could go to apply for her job, I immediately gave her props for making such a daring move. There comes a point in all of our lives when we need to assess what’s really important. Working long hours to say you make a good living might not be fulfilling to some–and even prohibit you from pursuing other dreams and ventures. I know plenty of people in corporate America who walked away from six figure salaries to start businesses and work for companies outside their industry.
There are times when you have to decide whether or not your happiness is worth your paycheck.
Lord knows if I received a Yale education and told my parents I was quitting my job to make $10 an hour on an island, they would get a belt and fast. Don’t misunderstand: they want me to be happy and never pushed a specific career avenue down my throat. That doesn’t mean they would allow me to travel down the rabbit hole where I can sing in the sun and not think about long-term effects like retirement and building wealth for my family.
Hearing about Noelle’s story makes me think about other folks I’ve come to meet in my life. Does a certain amount of white privilege come into play that enables a person follow their passion?
For example, in the blogging world, most of the successful sites and creators aren’t people of color. Does this mean there’s a lack of quality content from minorities? Absolutely not. There are just as many who provide thought-provoking pieces but don’t get the same exposure. Obviously things like time vested come into play, but it’s always interesting to learn about how a person’s background could’ve contributed to their success.
I know of a small handful of people who are super successful thanks to their family legacy. This has allowed them to pursue ventures and enter doors that might be closed to the average Joe or Jane. As you might’ve guessed, the majority are white.
As a wife and mommypreneur, I can only strive to provide the same opportunities for my children and will never knock a person’s ability to do so. At the same time, I’m well aware of Black history in this country and how lack of access and resources in the past affect today. This certainly doesn’t stop me from making the most of my situation, but it does make it less shocking that a person of color might not be able to up and quit such a good job for one that’s close to minimum wage.
Does hearing stories about people going after their dreams inspire you? Or only if the situation seems practical and relatable to you?
